Books We Read
Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton (baby and toddler)
A Seed Grows by Antionette Portis (toddler and preschool)
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (preschool)
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor (toddler and preschool)
Songs We Sang
Washing Machine
We’re washing in the washing in the washing machine
We’re washing in the washing in the washing machine
We’re washing in the washing in the washing machine
Spin around and now we’re clean!
Other verses: bouncing, spinning, dancing, etc.
Credit: WCCLS Birth2Six
Mr. Sun
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
please shine down on me.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
hiding behind the tree.
These little children are asking you
to please come out so we can play with you.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
please shine down on me.
Early Literacy Tip
Fingerplays and rhymes like five little flowers help children learn language by increasing vocabulary and learning the sounds of words and their rhythms. In young children, it can help them develop the fine motor skills they will need to write.
Flannel Board
With this flannel activity, I gave 5 kids a flower and while we counted they came up and planted a flower. After the first rhyme, 5 different kids then came and picked the flowers with the second rhyme. If I had more than 10 kids, I would repeat the first rhyme and let 5 more kids plant flowers. They love interacting with the flannel board!
One little flower growing just for you
Up came another and then there were 2
2 little flowers growing near a tree
Up came another and then there were 3
3 little flowers growing more and more
Up came another and then there were 4
4 little flowers growing side by side
Up came another and then there were 5!
Five Little Flowers
Five little flowers growing by my door
I picked one, and then there were four.
Four little flowers I did see.
I picked one, and then there were three.
Three little flowers, pretty and new.
I picked one, and then there were two.
Two little flowers out in the sun.
I picked one, and that left only one.
One little slower growing in the sun.
I picked it too, and then there were none.
Credit: Adventures in Storytime
Craft
Tissue Paper Art.
I ripped up some tissue paper into small pieces and then put out dixie cups with some water in them and small paint brushes. The kids got half a sheet of paper (cardstock works even better) and they got to lay the tissue paper wherever they wanted. Some made a flower and some made mosaic art. They use the paint brush to brush water on the tissue paper and when it dried, they peeled off the tissue paper and it left some color behind similar to a watercolor look.
How it Went
The books were a huge hit and I would read every single one again, I love them and the kids loved them. The flannel board was very popular and they wanted to do it again and again.
The craft is so easy, fun, and pretty mess-free except that only the red and green tissue paper worked. The blue and purple were very faded but the kids didn’t seem to care.